When Scouting Meets Mental Health: A Milestone for Wilderness for Wellness

I’m excited to share a major milestone for Wilderness for Wellness.

My Mental Health Manual for Scouts has officially been published and adopted by Scouts BSA Hong Kong Troop 1, where it now lives as a resource for Scouts, leaders, and families. What started as a personal project grounded in research and lived experience has become part of a real Scouting community—and that means everything to me.

This manual was designed specifically for Boy Scout troops, recognizing the unique challenges young people face today and the powerful role Scouting plays in shaping resilience, leadership, and character. By combining wilderness activities with mental health education, the guide helps Scouts better understand stress, emotional regulation, teamwork, and self-care—skills that matter both outdoors and in everyday life.

Nature has always been a powerful teacher. Time spent hiking, camping, paddling, and working together builds confidence and perspective in ways classrooms alone cannot. Wilderness for Wellness is built on that belief: that mental health support doesn’t have to be separated from adventure, leadership, and community—it can grow right alongside them.

I’m incredibly grateful to Scouts BSA Hong Kong Troop 1 for supporting this initiative and helping normalize conversations around mental health in youth programs. Their adoption of the manual sends a clear message: caring for mental wellbeing is just as important as physical preparedness and leadership training.

This is only the beginning. My hope is that this resource continues to evolve, reach more troops, and inspire young people to take care of themselves and one another—on the trail and beyond.